Variação anatómica: análise de caracteres nãométricos do esqueleto pós-craniano em escravos africanos dos séculos XV–XVII (Lagos, Portugal)

Sofia Antunes; Leoni Lauricio Fagundes; Sofia N. Wasterlain; Maria Teresa Ferreira

doi:10.14195/2182-7982_36_5

Authors

Sofia Antunes Departamento de Ciências da Vida, University of Coimbra
Leoni Lauricio Fagundes Departamento de Ciências da Vida, University of Coimbra https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3601-6090
Sofia N. Wasterlain Departamento de Ciências da Vida, University of Coimbra https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2913-3037
Maria Teresa Ferreira Departamento de Ciências da Vida, University of Coimbra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2437-7780

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14195/2182-7982_36_5

Keywords:

Non-metric morphology, long bones, Valle da Gafaria

Abstract

In 2009, the skeletons of 158 individuals were recovered from an urban dump (15th–17th centuries) in Lagos (Portugal). The biological profile of the individuals, the intentional modifications of their teeth, as well as the funerary and historical context support the hypothesis of them being African slaves. The present study aims to evaluate the frequency of non-metric characters in the skeletons of these individuals by sex and side in order to identify specific characters of this sample. All of the adult individuals in the collection (N=101) were included in the study. A total of 29 anatomical variations were sought-after in eight bones of the postcranial skeleton (clavicle, scapulae, humerus, radius, ulna, femur, patellae and tibiae). Nine of these characters were not found whereas the remaining 20 were recorded with frequencies between 1.8% and 96.1%. Only one character (costoclavicular sulcus) showed statistically significant differences between sexes. Six characters (suprascapular bevel, septal aperture, medial trochlear bevel, hypotrocanterial fossa, vast external bevel and lateral squat facet) presented differences between the two sides of the skeleton. No specific character was found for this population sample.